OTDIB – May 12th, 2015 – Stanton clears Dodger Stadium

♦ May 11, 2017 ♦ 2 Comments

May 12th, 2015 – Stanton gets even for the Dodgers not drafting him.

Giancarlo Stanton becomes the fourth player to hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium, joining McGwire (1999), Mike Piazza (1997), and Willie Stargell, who accomplished the feat twice (1969, 1973). The jaw-dropping first-inning blast off Mike Bolsinger, estimated to have travelled 475 feet, proves to be the only bright spot in the Marlins’ 11-1 loss to LA at Chavez Ravine.

I was at the game that Piazza hit it out. If I recall correctly he hit the top and it bounced over.


May 12th, 2009 – an unpleasant memory as ex-Dodger Werth steals 2nd, 3rd, and home.

In a 5-3 victory over LA at Citizens Bank Park, Jayson Werth steals home to complete his journey around the bases that also included the swiping of second and third base. In addition to becoming the first major leaguer to complete the stolen base cycle since Eric Young accomplished the feat in 1996 with Colorado, the Phillies’ right-fielder ties a team record established by Sherry Magee (2, 1906) and Garry Maddox (1978).

May 12th, 2004 – Alex Cora and the amazing at-bat

In one of the most remarkable at-bats in big league history, Alex Cora fouls off 14 consecutive pitches and then hits the 18th thrown to him by the Cubs’ Matt Clement over the right-field fence for a two-run home run which doubles LA’s lead to 4-0. The Dodger Stadium crowd cheered each foul ball as the total started to be displayed on the scoreboard.

I was definitely at the Alex Cora game. That was my first year in my new loge season tickets overlooking the Dodger bullpen so I went to just about every game in 2004. The foul balls were amazing, the crowd was amazing, but to hit a home run after all of that. Yeah

If you watch the Alex Cora video you will see his teammate Dave Roberts cheering him on with each foul ball. Vinny is priceless in this one.

May 12th, 1970 – Mr Cub hits 500

At Wrigley Field only 5,264 fans see Ernie Banks hit his 500th career home run, but on hand to witness the historic home run is Frank Secory, one of the umpires of the 1953 contest in which Mr. Cub hit his first round-tripper. The second-inning line drive, hit off Braves’ pitcher Pat Jarvis into the left-field bleachers, bounces back onto the field and is given to the Cub first baseman after the ball is retrieved by Atlanta outfielder Rico Carty.

I only posted this because of the attendance number. Only 5,000 fans. Cub fans have come a long way from 1970.  When I was a kid I used to be blown away by the sad attendance numbers at baseball games compared to Dodger Stadium. I also wish Mr. Cub had lived long enough to see the Cubs win that championship.

2 Comments

  1. 68elcamino427
    May 12, 2017 – 10:10 am

    Saw McGwire hit a ball out of Dodger Stadium in BP.
    He also hit the TV screen in LF.
    My sons and I were on the field level and had walked to the seats near the Dodgers bullpen, hoping to snag a BP baseball.
    We had a great view of these baseballs that McGwire hit, no baseballs for us on this day though.

    There was one ball McGwire hit that did land near us, three rows in front and about ten seats to our right. A nice little gray haired gentleman caught the ball, but with a cost.
    The ball was a “frozen rope”, likely traveling at a rate of speed similar to the balls that we had just seen hit the TV screen and leave the Stadium.
    Off the bat, I told my sons to leave this ball alone and I barely had time to say it.

    The lucky/unlucky man who caught the ball already had a large fresh looking bandage on his left hand and middle finger. Maybe he just stck his right hand up in self defense.
    That baseball hit the palm of his right hand and the ball dropped at his feet.
    Immediately, he inspected the palm of his right hand.
    I could see that the skin on the palm of his hand had split open from between his index and middle finger all the way to a spot about an inch above his wrist.

    I said to my son’s,
    “Poor guy, that has to hurt!
    Wonder who’s gonna wipe his butt for him while he has a bandage on each hand?”

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    • Phil Gurnee
      May 12, 2017 – 10:42 am

      I truly have never understood how more hands/faces are not broken in the stands.

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